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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL)

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Legislative Update - April 4, 2016

Monday, April 4, 2016

Dear Neighbors,

It’s been a few busy weeks at the Capitol. Last week I had constituents visit me to discuss Alzheimer’s disease, AIDS, epilepsy, bike safety and all manners of issues. It’s always a joy to visit with the people of Eagan who come and lobby on issues they’re passionate about. Here are a few items I wanted to update you on:

Deadline Week

The 2016 legislative session is compressed into about ten weeks and already last Friday marked the first committee deadline. Each year the Legislature establishes deadlines for committee action on bills to narrow the list of topics to be dealt with that year. The first deadline is deadline where most bills must be heard in either the House or Senate or they will “die” for the legislative session.

There are two more deadlines coming up on April 8th and then April 21st. “Deadline weeks” are very busy. Last week, like this week, is jam-packed with committee meetings, floor sessions, and constituents visiting the Capitol complex in large numbers to visit with their legislators and advocate for their concerns and issues.

“Next Generation Main Street Act” to Help Small Businesses Thrive

House and Senate legislators joined small business owners at a press conference to push for passage of the “Next Generation Main Street Act,” an array of proposals designed to support small businesses across the state. We worked with Minnesota small business owners to bring forward initiatives that will reduce costly audits, simplify tax filing for businesses, and make it easier for owners to transfer their businesses to a next generation owner.

At the press conference, Danny Schwartzman, owner of a café in Minneapolis said, “these are some pretty common sense ideas that can go a long way to helping small businesses.” I hope we can work together to pass the Next Generation Main Street Act this session.

The Next Generation Main Street Act key components include:

 

Supporting Small Business Start-Ups & Entrepreneurs by making sure that every person that starts a small business in Minnesota is contacted and provided information about the resources available to them In addition, legislators are working to assist business start-ups with gap financing through the Minnesota Initiative Foundations.

 

Helping with Succession Planning by providing grants to Small Business Development Centers to provide transaction services to business owners and next generation, non-family proprietors to help them take over a business.

 

Streamlining Audits: simplify the process to reduce the amount of time and money small business owners must spend on costly audits in a number of ways

 

Simplifying Tax Filing for Small Businesses: by enacting federal tax conformity so that Minnesota businesses can file taxes without delay and uncertainty in 2016.

 

Constituent Spotlight

This week’s Eagan constituent spotlight features Pam Gonella and the Knapp family. Pam Gonella is an Eagan resident and Co-Chair of the Best Life Alliance. The Best Life Alliance is working to ensure that community based and home care workers can get a 5% raise like nursing home workers got last year. Their work ensures that people with disabilities thrive by living lives in communities and that others can stay in their homes longer, rather than simply going to a more costly setting like a nursing home. Pam’s story was featured on WCCO TV News, which you can see below.

The Knapp family of Eagan have been active advocates for bus safety in our community. They testified on a bill that clarifies some rules governing school bus stops. I was happy to carry this bill and support citizen led policy changes on behalf of our community.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any issues or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Laurie